The organisation announced plans for a 20 million euro investment in its Irish operations between now and the end of 2015, which will include the opening of 12 new restaurants.

Junior minister for jobs John Perry welcomed the announcement, which he described as positive news.

"McDonald's is not only directly creating a very significant number of jobs in the food service industry, it is also helping to secure jobs and create employment indirectly through the Irish goods and services it purchases for domestic use and for export," said Mr Perry, as he opened its newest restaurant in Airside, Co Dublin.

The new opening has created 82 positions, which brings the total employment of McDonald's in Ireland to 4,054.

The company is expected to have more than 4,700 workers on its payroll following the launch of the remaining restaurants over the next three years.

"Many of McDonald's restaurants are operated by franchisees who are small business owners and who, working with McDonald's, have developed successful business while creating jobs in their communities across the country," Mr Perry added.

"The McDonald's model offering local business people the opportunity to run their own business as franchisees has been very successful over the last 35 years."

The new restaurants will be based all over the country, including locations in Dublin, Kilkenny, Ballina and Kildare Village.

A number of other sites are under consideration and recruitment for the jobs is expected to get under way in January.